LAST weekend, for the second away game in succession, Basingstoke RFC took the decision to concede their first-team fixture.

As a result, they were deducted another five points, taking the total number of points they have lost due to penalties this season to an incredible 25.

They were already relegated, so in the grand scheme of things, it makes very little difference, but I’m still certain that it was not a decision anybody at the club took lightly.

They were due to play league leaders Wimbledon, so cynics might argue that losing five meaningless points would be preferable to suffering a three-figure defeat like the one they received at the hands of Havant a few weeks ago.

I very much doubt that is the case. Chairman of playing Steve Parker has explained that he was concerned for the safety of the players he would have needed to bring into the team, and I believe him.

What is clear now is that we may be entering a period of transition, not just for the first team, but for Basingstoke RFC as a whole.

The set of circumstances that got the club to this position are well documented. Having been relegated at the end of last season, ’Stoke were expected to challenge for promotion back to National Three London this season.

The decision to field an ineligible player under a false name in just the second game of the season sparked a season of discontent.

Not only were the club deducted 15 points, taking them from title contenders to relegation candidates, but it ultimately led to the departure of two long-standing committee members, including the chairman, the coaching staff and most of the senior playing squad.

As a result, the second half of the season has been terribly difficult, with a squad made up of young players, guys called up from the second and third teams and older players talked out of retirement doing their best.

Instead of challenging for promotion, they have been relegated and will probably spend next season in London Two South West, which I’d imagine is the lowest level they have played at since the league system was introduced in the 1980s.

As far as the senior team goes, there’s not a lot of good news – but if you look beyond the first team, the situation is far brighter.

The club’s youth system continues to thrive, with hundreds of children descending on Down Grange to play rugby every Sunday morning.

This is important work and it seems that the focus of the club may be shifting slightly.

When I spoke to Richard Fitzpatrick, who took over as chairman earlier this year, most of my questions concerned the future of the first team.

He answered them all, and it was clear that he was as disappointed as anyone else by their current plight. However, while he didn’t want to see them relegated, he was quick to point out that the first team is just one part of the club.

Generally speaking, the league that the first team play in has little impact on the club overall. The pre-match lunches, which are such an important revenue stream, will continue no matter what league the first team is playing in, as will the Sunday morning training sessions for youngsters keen to play rugby.

At a time when more and more clubs are playing first team players, Basingstoke remain stoutly amateur. This may be to the detriment of their flagship squad, but it’s a massive benefit to the local community, rugby and the club as a whole.